AI is shortening the “kill chain” in Iran war, says Canadian legal scholar

Tehran Times · 2026-10-20 16:13 UTC

TEHRAN- Heidi Matthews, an assistant professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, researches international criminal law, the law of war and the legal regulation of political violence.

Heidi Matthews examines how AI-assisted target identification and prioritization could affect human oversight and civilian protection

TEHRAN- Heidi Matthews, an assistant professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, researches international criminal law, the law of war and the legal regulation of political violence.

Her work examines the implications of military operations for civilian protection and accountability under international law. As the US-Israeli war against Iran raises renewed questions about the limits of military force and the protection of civilians, Matthews spoke to the Tehran Times about the legality of the war, the lessons of Gaza, the erosion of international legal norms, and the responsibilities of states in preventing civilian harm.

Read the full story at Tehran Times · All coverage of this story